Aerial camera mount and control means therefor



March 10, 1953 R. c. HORNE ET AL 2,630,983

AERIAL CAMERA MOUNT AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 8, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. .9 g gl g gg ozzs.

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March 10, 1953 R. c. HORNE ETAL 2,630,933

AERIAL CAMERA MOUNT AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 8, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 T/LBLE or cmzim POJIIIOIVSIWICHES 2., ED SWITCHLS Jlfff 1525/7. VERTICAL l5fi/6HT 5%766'7 March 10, 1953 g. HORNE ET AL 2,630,983

AERIAL CAMERA MOUNT AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 8, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTORS. en/1a rd 6271M:

arms f/Fof/e (Macy March 10, 1953 R. c. HORNE ET AL 2,630,983

AERIAL CAMERA MOUNT AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 8, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. C. HORNE ETAL AERIAL CAMERA MOUNT AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR March 10, 1953 Filed Feb. 8, 1951 Jffarng Patented Mar. 10, 1953 AERIAL CAMERA MOUNT AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Richard C. Horne, Morris E. Roth, and Fred N. Dickerman, Dallas, Tex., assignors to United Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford, Conn, a

corporation of Delaware Application February 8, 1951, Serial No. 210,072

Claims.

This invention relates to aerial photographic apparatus and more particularly to an automatically controlled camera mount for an airplane for supporting a camera in any selected position of several predetermined positions and the control means therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a camera mount for an airplane which will enable the camera to be positioned in a pre-selected position to take pictures from a desired angle.

Another object is to provide a camera mount for an airplane which can be controlled from a remote point to position a camera in any selected position of several predetermined positions to enable the camera to take pictures from a preselected angle.

A further object is to provide control means for the doors which cover apertures in the body of an aircraft through which pictures are taken by a camera and for the camera and its mount which will allow the camera to operate only when the camera is in a selected one of several predetermined positions and facing an open aperture in the body of the aircraft.

Briefly stated, the aerial photographic apparatus of the invention is usually employed in a high speed airplane in order to secure a series of pictures taken from any of several predetermined angles. The apparatus comprises a cradle rotatably mounted in the body or fuselage of an airplane adjacent apertures, closed by slidable doors, provided in the fuselage and through which pictures are to be taken. The cradle is provided with means for securing a camera there- Electrical controls are provided by means of which the doors, the cradle and the camera may operated from a point in the aircraft remote from the camera in order that pictures may be taken the camera through any selected aperture in the fuselage from any one of several predetermined angles.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the aft portion of an airplane fuselage, drawn in phantom, showing the sliding doors for the apertures through which photographs are taken by a camera mounted within the fuselage;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the camera mount and the sliding doors together with their associated operating mechanisms shown in position in an aircraft fuselage, which is drawn in phantom, together with remote controls positioned in a forward portion of the fuselage;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the camera mount operating mechanism and showing the camera drawn in phantom, in a left 3 below horizontal position;

Figure 3A is a diagrammatic chart showing the microswitches which are contacted by the master cam and the auxiliary cams when the camera is in a left 3 below horizontal position;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the mechanism shown in Figure 3 showing the camera in a vertical position;

Figure 4A is a diagrammatic chart showing the microswitches which are contacted by the master cam and auxiliary cams when the camera is in a vertical position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the door operating mechanism;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cradle as sembly;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical circuits for controlling the door, camera, and cradle operating mechanisms;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the cradle operating mechanism;

Figure 9 is a side elevation showing the camera and its operating mechanism;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of the camera including the serrated brace pads at the positions which the camera cradle may assume;

Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the cradle assembly; and

Figure 12 is a chart showing the open and closed positions of microswitches relative to each of the predetermined camera positions.

In the drawing, the camera mount, indicated enerally by the reference character 20, is shown installed in the aft portion of the fuselage 21 of an airplane adjacent and between three apertures provided in the sides and bottom of the fuselage. The camera mount is adapted to hold a camera 22 and rotate it to predetermined positions in which the camera may take photographs from difierent angles.

The apertures in the fuselage are closed by sliding side doors 23 and 24 and a bottom door 25 which are slidably mounted in conventional door mounting assemblies 26, 2'5 and 28, respectively, which are rigidly secured to the fuselage. The doors are opened and closed by an electric motor 29. The electric motor 29 drives a reduction gear assembly 30 which in turn simultaneously drives two cable driving gear assemblies 3! and 32. The cable driving gear assembly 3! drives a pair of cables 33 and 34 which extend through conduits 35 and 36 and have ends provided with clevises 31 and 38, respectively, which are secured to lugs 39 and 40 on the side doors 23 and 24 by means of pins 4! and 42, respectively. The-conduits 3.5: and 36 are supported by brackets 43 and 44, respectively, rigidly secured to the sides of the fuselage. The free ends of the cables 33 and 34 extend through conduits 45 and 40, respectively, which are secured to the fuselage by brackets 41 and 49, respectively. The conduits 45 and 46 are provided to constrain the free ends of the cables 33 and 34 and prevent them from contacting other components of the mechanism. It will be apparent that when the electric motor 29 is driven in one direction the cables 33 and 34 will slide doors 23 and 24 open and that when it is driven in the other direction the cables 33 and 34 will slide the doors to close the side apertures in the fuselage.

The bottom door 25 is actuated by a similar cable 50 which extends through a conduit 5| and is driven by the cable driving gear assembly 32. The cable 50 has an end provided with a clevis 52 which is secured to a lug 53 on the bottom door 25 by a pin 54. The free end of cable 50 extends into the conduit 55 which is secured to the fuselage by a bracket 56. The conduit 5i is supported by a bracket 51 similar to brackets 43 and 44. The cable 50 is so connected to gear driving assembly 32 that it will operate simultaneously with cables 33 and 34 to open or close bottom door 25 when the side doors 23 and 24 are opened and closed. All three doors, therefore, will open simultaneously and close simultaneously.

The doors 23, 24 and 25 are provided with brackets 58, 59 and 60 which support actuator pins 60a, BI and 62, respectively, which actuate microswitches 63, 64 and 65 when the doors are in fully open position. The door actuated microswitches 63, 64 and 65 prevent operation of the camera unless the door for closing the aperture to which the camera is pointed is fully open.

A camera cradle 66 is rotatably mounted between and adjacent the doors 23, 24 and 25 for rotary movement about an axis parallel to the fore and aft axis of the fuselage by means of trunnions 6i and 68 which are supported by fittings 69 and I0, respectively, rigidly secured to fixed structures, such as the cross members II and I2, which in this manner support the cradle 66. The cradle may be of welded construction having an upper substantially rectangular frame I3 having a detachable end portion I4 secured to a fixed portion I5 by pins I6 and 11 which extend through registering apertures I8 in telescoping ends of the end portion I4 and the fixed portion I5.

A lower substantially rectangular frame I9, which is smaller than upper frame I3, is rigidly secured to the upper frame by connecting me i-- bers 90, 0|, 82 and 83. The lower frame is provided with four camera braces 84 which extend inwardly from the lower frame I9. Each of the camera braces 04 comprises a threaded rod 85 to one end of which is secured a resilient pad 96. The other end of each of the rods 85 extends through a suitable aperture in the lower frame I9 and is secured to the frame by nuts 81 and 89 disposed on opposite sides of the lower frame.

A pair of inverted U-shaped members 89 and 99 are rigidly secured to the fixed portion I5 of the upper frame I3 and each is provided with a pair of vertical flanges 9I between and to which the trunnion blocks 92 and 93 of trunnions 6'I and 68, respectively, are rigidly secured by means of bolts, such as the bolts 94a of trunnion block The end of trunnion 68 is half-round in shapeand is engaged .by the half-round end of the driving shaft of the cradle motor .94 which rotates the cradle 66 about the trunnions 6'! and 68.

In order to mount a conventional aerial camera in the cradle against vibration and shock, a pair of shock absorber assemblies 95 and 96 are provided. The lower portion of the shock absorbers 95 and 96 are rigidly secured, as by welding, to fiat plates 99 which are secured to the riser members 9'! and 98 of frame I3 by means of bolts such as bolts 99a of the shock absorber assembly 95. As seen best in Fig. 11, each of the shock absorber assemblies includes a bushing I06 mounted within a ring IOI by a plurality of springs I02 which is detachably secured in a split mounting housing having a lower portion I63 and an upper portion I04 which may be secured together by pins I05 which pass through registering apertures in overlapping extensions of the housing portions. The lower portion I03 of the housing is rigidly secured to the plate 99. The bushings I00 receive the trunnions I06 and I 0? of the camera 22 (Fig. 9), which is therefore yieldably supported by the springs I02.

In installing a camera 22 in the cradle 66, the pins I6, I! are withdrawn and the end portion I4 of the upper frame I3 is detached. The pins I95 of the shock absorber assemblies are also withdrawn and the upper portion I04 of the mount ing housing is detached from the lower portion 03 and the rings IOI are removed and placed on the trunnions I06 and I01 of the camera. The camera is then placed within the upper and lower frames I3 and I9 and the rings Ilil are positioned in the lower portions I03 of the hous ing and the upper portions I04 are replaced and secured to the lower portions by inserting the pins Hi5 through the registering apertures in the overlapping extensions of the upper and lower housing portions. The end frame por-- tion I4 is then replaced and locked in position by the pins I6 and TI. The camera braces 64 are then adjusted by manipulation of the nuts 87 and 38 to press the pads 86 against the camera and hold it firmly but resiliently in place in the cradle 66.

The positions of the shock absorber assemblies 95 and 96 can be moved to accommodate cameras of diiferent sizes since the supporting riser members 97 and 98 are provided with a plurality of apertures I 08 through which the bolts 99a, which secure the plates 99 to the cradle, may extend.

A locking solenoid I09 is mounted on the cradle 50 by means of bolts III) which extend through registering apertures in the solenoid plate Ii! and a bracket IIZ rigidly secured to the cradle 66. The spring-loaded solenoid plunger H3 is provided with a foot II4 which is adapted to engage any one of five serrated brace pads H5, III), H1, H9 and H9 rigidly secured to the fuselage by brackets I 20 and bolts I2I. When the solenoid E09 is deenergized, the plunger IE3 is biased by its spring toward one of the brace pads which its foot II4 firmly engages and locks the carriage 66 against rotary movement about its trunnions 61 and 6B. When the solenoid I09 is energized, the plunger is retracted and the car riage is free to rotate. In order to ensure that the cradle motor 94 is never energized unless plunger [I3 is in retracted position, a microswitch I 22 is rigidly secured to the carriage E6 and has a pin I23 which is actuated by the button I24 on the upper endof the plunger II 3 only when the plunger is in retracted position. Actuation of pin I23 closes the microswitch I22 to allow energization of the cradle motor 94.

In order to allow the cradle 68 to be rotated by the motor 94 into any selected one of five pr determined positions and to permit the cradle motor 94 to be controlled from a point in the airplane remote from the cradle, an arcuate master cam I25 is rigidly secured to the cradle by three bolts I26. An arcuate yoke I21 is fixed to the fuselage and is concentric with, and of greater radius than, the master cam I25.

The master cam is adapted to open a plurality of position microswitches I28, I29, I33 and I3I and close a plurality of microswitches I 33, I34 and I35 mounted on the yoke I21 and a microswitch I32 mounted on the fuselage and which control the operation of the cradle motor 84 to rotate the cradle to any one of five predetermined positions which are selected by closing one of the switches I36, I31, I38, I39 or I45 located in the control position, such as the cockpit of the airplane. The master cam has a pair of auxiliary cams MI and I42 which are adapted to close the microswitches I43, I44 and I45 which control the operation of the camera motor I46. motor is indicated only in Fig. 7 since it is located in the conventional camera 22.

The manner of operation of the cradle 66 and the various control circuits will now be described. The various switches and relays are shown in Fig. 7 in the positions they occupy when. the cradle 65 is in a vertical position; the switches contacted by the master cam I25 and auxiliary cam I4I when the camera is in the vertical position being clearly shown in Fig. 4A. Starting with the cradle in the vertical position (see Fig. 4), and the doors 23, 24 and 25 closed and the master switch I41 also closed, the vacuum pump I48 of a vacuum system employed to hold film against the vacuum back in the camera magazine will be the only operating element of the apparatus. The vacuum system is not described in detail since such systems are old and well known in the art. If the camera manual switch M9 is closed, and the selective camera switch I50 is moved either to the left (Fig. '7) to the manual operation position or to the right to the automatic operation position in which the intervalometer I5I will periodically connect the selective camera switch I 58 to the bus bar I52, the camera motor will not operate even though the microswitch I45 is closed by the auxiliary cam I-II, since the microswitch 65 is open. If the door master switch I 53 is now moved to the upper position it connects the door motor 39 to bus I54 and the door motor runs in such direction that the doors 23, 2 and 25 are opened. When the doors reach their fully open positions, the microswitches 63, 64 and 65 are closed by the actuating pins on the doors. If the selective camera switch I 50 is now moved to the left hand position (Fig. 7) the camera motor I45 will be connected to bus I52 through conductor I49a, manual switch I49, conductor I492), selective camera switch I50, conductor I 55, conductor I55, relay contact ISId, conductor I32 and conductor I51. Belay contact I3 I a will be in its actuated, closed, position since its relay winding I33 will be connected to bus I52 through conductor I85, microswitch I45, conductor I84, microswitch 65, con- The camera 2 ductors Iflaa, I60 and I BI. The camera motor will now operate and the camera 20 will take pictures through the aperture closed by bottom door 25. If the camera selective switch I is moved to the right hand position, the camera. motor will be connected to bus I52 through the intervalometer I5I which will connect the camera motor I 46 to the bus I52 periodically through conductors I62 and I63, switch I50, conductor I 55, conductor I55, relay contact I8Ia, conductor I82 and conductor I 51. Intervalometers are well known in the art and intervalometer I 5I will therefore not be described in detail.

The cradle motor 94 will be inoperative since the microswitches I 23 to I35 are in such positions that neither the relay winding I 5801. nor the relay winding I59a of a cradle actuator motor control is energized to actuate their contacts I60a, I6Ia. and I62a and I 53a, I64 and I65, respectively, and connect the cradle motor 94 and the locking solenoid I09 to the bus I52.

If it then be desired to take pictures through the aperture closed by side door 24 with the camera tilted at a three degree angle from the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3, the switch I36 is closed to connect the relay winding I53a to bus I 52 through conductors I66 and I61, switch I 36. conductors I68 and IE9, microswitch I28 and conductor I10. The other side of the relay winding I58a is connected to ground through the conductor I1I The relay winding I580. being energized, the contacts IGIla, I6Ia. and I62a are moved to their actuated positions. Locking solenoid I09 will then be connected to bus I52 through conductors I12 and I13, contact I 62a and conductors Ifila and 53a and will retract its plunger I I3. Foot I I4 will then release its contact with brace pad H1 and the cradle 66 will be free to rotate about its trunnions 61 and 58. When plunger H3 is retracted the button I24 secured to its upper end actuates the microswitch I22 which then connects the cradle motor 94 to bus I52 through conductors I68a and I 61a, contact I am, conductor I14, contact I60u, conductor I15. a filter I 16 for suppressing radio noise generated in the motor 54, the conductor I18, the series winding I19 which causes counterclockwise rotation of the cradle 66 and master cam I25 as viewed in Figures 3 and 4, conductor I89, and switch I22. The other side of the switch I22 is connected to ground through a conductor I III. The cradle motor 94 will now rotate in a counterclockwise manner until the master cam I25 operates the microswitch I28. The position of master cam I25 when in contact with switch I28 is clearly shown in Fig. 3A. The'relay winding I58a will then become de-energized, contacts Ififia, I Sid, and I620; will return to their open or non-actuated positions, motor 34 will be disconnected from bus bar I 52 and will stop, and the locking solenoid I I39 will also be disconnected from the bus I 52. The plunger II3 will then be pushed out since it is spring-loaded and its foot II 4 will contact the pad H5 to lock cradle 66 against further rotation. Switch I22 will also open to protect the apparatus from accidental operation of cradle motor 94.

The microswitch I35 will now be closed by the auxiliary cam I 42 on the master cam I25 and the camera motor I 46 will be connected to t e bus bar I52, when selective switch I is in its left hand position, through conductor I 49a, manual camera switch I49, conductor I491), selective switch I 55, conductor I55, relay contact I56a, and conductor I51. The relay contact I56a is actuated to closed position by the relay winding I58 which is connected to bus I52 by the conductors ISI and I60, microswitches E54 and I43, and the conductor I59. Camera 22 can now, therefore, be operated to take pictures through the aperture closed by the side door 24.

If it now be desired to move the camera to a position in which it will take photographs through the aperture closed by the other side door 23, at an angle of three degrees from the horizontal, switch MD is closed to connect the relay winding i590. to bus I52 through the conductor Hi6, switch Mil, conductors I 86, I8! and I88, the microswitch I29 and the conductor I89. The relay winding I591; being energized, the contacts 53a, I54 and IE are moved to their actuated positions. Locking solenoid 39 will then be connected to bus I52 through the contact I55 and will retract its plunger H3, to permit rotation of the cradle 55. The microswitch I22 will then connect the cradle motor as to bus I52 through conductor I58a, contact I64, conductor I90, contact 553a, conductor iiil, the filter I15, conductor I32, and the series winding I93 which causes clockwise rotation of the motor 94, conductor Hid, switch 522 and the conductor Isl. The cradle will then be rotated until the switch I29 is opened by the master cam I25. The relay winding I591; is then deenergized and the cradle motor 9% stops rotating. Simultaneously, plunger II? is released and its foot Ilzl contacts the pad H5 to prevent further movement of the cradle and the camera. Microswitch I44 will then be closed and will energize the relay winding I94, when microswitch fill is closed, to actuate the contact I95 to then permit the camera motor to be connected to the bus 552.

The camera can be stopped at five predetermined positions by the control circuit illustrated and described. The positions of the switches i 23 to I35 in each of the five positions is indicated in the chart shown in Figure 12. Tracing of various circuits for each of the five positions is deemed unnecessary since the circuits can be easily traced by those skilled in the art. It will be evident that a camera mount and control circuits have been provided for operating a camera and its mount from a position remote from the camera which enables the camera to be rotated to a plurality of predetermined positions by merely pushing a selected button or switch. The ease and simplicity of operation, and the provision of protective circuits which prevent operation of the cradle motor and of the camera motor unless other elements of the apparatus are in their proper positions are among the chief advantages of the invention.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth, it is not desired to be limited to the specific structure except as set forth in the appended claims, and it is further understoodtherein, cam means attached to said cradle and rotated therewith, a yoke fastened to the airplane including position switches supported thereon and adapted to be actuated by said cam means for arresting said cradle at predetermined positions, and a plunger carried by said cradle and governed by said position switches adapted to engage the airplane structure to lock said cradle in said predetermined positions.

2. In an aircraft, a mounting arrangement for an aerial camera comprising a mounting cradle pivoted to the structure of the aircraft, means for rotating said cradle on fixed structure of said aircraft, cam means adapted to be rotated with said cradle, a plurality of electrical position switches mounted on the aircraft and adapted to be contacted by said cam means, manually operable means for energizing said means for rotating said cradle through a selected position switch lie-energizing said means for rotating said cradle when said cam means contacts said selected position switch, and a solenoid-operated brace attached to said cradle and governed by the de-energization of said means for rotating said cradle for locking said cradle at a predetermined position.

3. In an aircraft having a fuselage provided with a plurality of apertures; a cover for each of said apertures; a motor for moving said covers into open and closed positions; a cradle rotatably supported in said fuselage adjacent said apertures, said cradle being adapted to support a camera; a motor for rotating said cradle; electrically controlled means operatively associated with said cradle motor for rotating said cradle to a selected position of a plurality of predetermined positions; and means operatively associated with said electrically controlled means and said cradle motor preventing rotation of said cradle while said apertures are closed.

4. In combination; an airplane having a fuse lage provided with a plurality of apertures arranged about the longitudinal axis of said fuselage; a cover for each of said apertures; an electrically controlled means operatively associated with said covers for closing said apertures; a cradle mounted in said fuselage adjacent said apertures for rotary movement about an axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said cradle being adapted to support a camera; a motor for rotating said cradle; means for preventing energization of said motor while said apertures are closed; electrically controlled means for locking said cradle against movement; a plurality of switch means operatively associated with said locking means and said motor, each of said switch means when actuated unlocking said cradle to permit rotary movement of said cradle and starting said motor; and a plurality of switches secured to said fuselage adjacent said cradle, each of said switches being operatively associated with one of said switch means to stop said motor at a predetermined position, said plu rality of switch means being adapted to rotate said cradle to any one of a plurality of selectable positions as determined by actuation of a selected switch means. I

5. A camera. mount apparatus comprising; a camera receiving and holding cradle mounted on fixed structure for rotatable movement about an axis; a motor for rotating said cradle; a plurality of switches for controlling the energization of said motor secured to said fixed structure ad jacent said cradle; a cam on said cradle for actuating said switches as said cradle is rotated by said motor; and a plurality of control switches located at a point remote from said cradle, each of said control switches being operatively asso' ciated with said first mentioned switches to corn trol the direction and degree of rotation of said cradle to rotate said cradle to a predetermined position with respect to said axis, each of said control switches causing said cradle to be rotated to a different predetermined position about the axis.

6. The device of claim and means operatively associated with said first mentioned switches for locking said cradle in each of said predetermined positions.

7. In the device of claim 5, a solenoid mounted on said cradle and having a plunger for co-acting with said fixed structure to lock said cradle in said predetermined positions, said solenoid being operatively associated with said control switches and being energized to unlock said cradle for rotary movement each time one of said control switches is actuated to cause rotation of said cradle from one of said predetermined po-j' sitions to another.

8. A camera mount apparatus for an electrically energized camera comprising: a camera receiving and holding cradle mounted on fixed structurefor rotatable movement about an axis} a motor for rotating said cradle; a plurality of switches for controlling the energization of said motor secured to said fixed structure adjacent said cradle; a cam on said cradle for actuating said switches as said cradle is rotated about said axis; a plurality of control switches located atia point remote from said cradle, each of said con-j trol switches being operatively associated with said first mentioned switches to control the di-f rection and degree of rotation of said cradleto 10 predetermined positions; and means on said cam for selectively actuating said camera control switches when said cradle is rotated to said predetermined position to permit energization of said camera.

9. The device of claim 8 and means operatively associated with said first mentioned switches for locking said cradle in each of said predetermined positions.

10. The device of claim 8 and a solenoid mounted on said cradle and having a plunger for co-acting with said fixed structure to lock said cradle in said predetermined positions, said solenoid being operatively associated with said control switches and being energized to unlock said cradle for rotary movement each time one of said control switches is actuated to cause rotation of said cradle from one of said predetermined positions to another.

RICHARD C. HORNE. MORRIS E. ROTH. FRED N. DICKERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,829,142 Hyden Oct. 2'1, 1931 1,845,551 Mitzi Feb. 16, 1932 2,415,563 Nash Feb. 11, 1947 2,474,841 Hatfield July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 459,337 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1937 829,491 France Apr. 5, 1938 

